Beat: Joe Montana’s team still big in Japan

Japan’s Nippon television network was in Santa Clara this week to get stories on the 49ers‘ surprising success. When American football became popular in Japan in the 1980s, the growth of the sport centered on the 49ers and, specifically, quarterback Joe Montana.

“He was the best pitchman any league could ever ask for,” said Ikuma Isaac of Nippon TV Japan and NFLJapan.com. Montana, at the time, did a commercial for Mitsubishi electronics and used a play on words with his last name that was similar to a Japanese phrase. The commercial, Montana, the 49ers and the NFL became a huge hit.

“I would say about 80 percent of Japan knows the 49ers,” director and cameraman Kohei Kosaka said. He produces a half-hour show on the NFL, which includes a John Madden-like tough-guy award. Linebacker Ahmad Brooks took the honor earlier this year for sacking Browns quarterback Colt McCoy despite losing his helmet.

Solidarity punishment: Before the Thanksgiving night game in Baltimore, 49ers receivers decided to wear all-white socks as a collective fashion statement. The NFL didn’t approve and fined them each $5,000 for violating the uniform dress code.

“We just talked about it before the game and we just did it,” wide receiver Kyle Williams said. “But they got us today for it.”

But Williams wasn’t overly depressed about the fine. “I also got word that I might be able to write it off,” he said.

Briefly: Wide receiver Braylon Edwards is listed as questionable with knee and shoulder injuries. He did not practice at all this week. … The Rams list quarterback Sam Bradford (ankle) and defensive end Chris Long (ankle) as questionable.